Rookies to step up as Liverpool reels from defensive crisis

Such is defensive crisis unfolding at Liverpool that a teenr who spent last season on loan at sixth-tier Kidderminster is set to be entrusted to hold toger injury-hit backline of Premier League champions over next few weeks.

Expect to be seeing a lot of 19-year-old Rhys Williams in coming matches. With his 6-foot-5 (1.97-meter) frame and a man-bun that is becoming a common sight in England’s top division, he is hard to miss.

Williams is highly regarded, too, having played for England’s under-18, under-19 and under-21 teams.

Still, his likely presence at heart of Liverpool’s defense for Saturday’s match against West Ham at Anfield — and probably for a few more games after that — will be ringing some alarm bells among Liverpool fans, and is hardly kind of predicament Jurgen Klopp can be relishing as he juggles domestic and European commitments in a packed schedule.

When Liverpool manr signed off on sale of two center backs — backup Dejan Lovren and young prospect Ki-Jana Hoever — in offseason, he was content that he h three senior players in that position and could also fall back on midfield anchorman Fabinho in an emergency.

However, in a run of misfortune over past two weeks, Virgil van Dijk sustained a serious knee injury that could rule him out for season, Joel Matip h a setback on his return from a long-term absence, and n Fabinho pulled up with an injury to his right hamstring during win over FC Midtjylland in Champions League on Wednesday.

“Exactly last thing we needed,” Klopp said of Fabinho’s injury that will certainly keep Brazil midfielder out of West Ham game.

Joe Gomez, a defender searching for his form of last season, stands alone as sole fit, senior center back available to Klopp. options alongside him are all young and inexperienced, helined by Williams but also including 23-year-old Nat Phillips and French 17-year-old Billy Koumetio.

number of Premier League appearances combined among that trio? Zero.

It is Williams who is set to get d initially, with teenr having performed solidly after replacing Fabinho against Midtjylland. He also went on for final minutes of win over Ajax in opening round of Champions League’s group st.

“ only problem we have w,” Klopp said of Williams after Midtjylland game, “is that, unfortunately, we have four days to West Ham game and you will make a story every day about him and n he has to prove he can deal with that as well.

“But he is a talent.”

Klopp is facing criticism for t signing a replacement for Lovren, Croatia international who joined Zenit St. Petersburg in July.

“It’s hard to have four world-class center halves,” Klopp said last week, when told former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher h questioned why ar player hn’t been brought in.

“If anyone wants to tell us we me a mistake — I think Carragher mentioned alrey — re are a few reasons why y don’t do this job.”

Even when at full strength, Liverpool’s defense — tightest in Premier League for last two seasons — has been unusually sloppy this campaign, tably in that astounding 7-2 loss at Aston Villa in league. 14 goals Liverpool has conceded so far is tied for most in league, along with West Bromwich and Fulham — promoted teams widely considered favorites for relegation.

Having goalkeeper Alisson Becker back from a shoulder problem is a positive for Klopp, as is likely absence because of injury of West Ham striker Michail Antonio, a battering ram of a forward who has been one of Premier League’s most prolific players since resumption of soccer following coronavirus outbreak.

Next week, though, Liverpool is up against two of most free-scoring teams in Europe — Atalanta in Champions League on Tuesday and Manchester City in Premier League following Sunday.

It is sink-or-swim time for Williams, who surely cant have envisd being in this situation when playing against amateurs in National League rth last season.

Im credits: AP